BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Holcomb Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 95 species recorded across 51 survey years, still active.

95Species RecordedSpecies recordedDistinct species detected on standard-protocol BBS runs here across all years on record — a measure of survey breadth, not a complete checklist.Full methodology →
51Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1971–2025Span
4Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Holcomb

Top 40 of 95 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Holcomb route.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology →History
House SparrowPasseridae872025-89%1973
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae85202523×2003
American RobinTurdidae772025-2%1973
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae652025-76%1973
European StarlingSturnidae402025-91%1973
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae312025+114%1973
Song SparrowPasserellidae292025-59%1973
Canada GooseAnatidae272025-51%1989
Barn SwallowHirundinidae242025+115%1973
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae232025+47%1973
Mourning DoveColumbidae222025+4%1973
KilldeerCharadriidae182025+52%1978
Chimney SwiftApodidae162025-31%1973
American CrowCorvidae142025-45%1973
Blue JayCorvidae122025-49%1973
Northern CardinalCardinalidae122025+258%1973
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae112025-77%1973
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae112025-17%1973
DickcisselCardinalidae112025-84%1973
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae112022+163%1979
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae112025+15%1982
Turkey VultureCathartidae112025+760%1993
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae112025+633%2017
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae102025-63%1977
American GoldfinchFringillidae92025+17%1973
Black-capped ChickadeeParidae92025+38%1973
House FinchFringillidae92025-24%1992
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae82025+100%1973
Gray CatbirdMimidae72025+18%1973
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae72025+63%1977
Tree SwallowHirundinidae72023+333%1993
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae72025+160%1984
Common YellowthroatParulidae52025-58%1973
Forster's TernLaridae51978n/an/a
Eastern Screech-OwlStrigidae51996n/an/a
Horned LarkAlaudidae42025-66%1973
Rose-breasted GrosbeakCardinalidae42025+33%1979
Brown ThrasherMimidae42025-81%1973
American KestrelFalconidae42025+100%1978
OvenbirdParulidae41978n/an/a

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. A route is a sample, not a census.